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Page 447
Sir Peter at Clyro Hill. The man had received Alinor willingly enough when she went on progress and had made no other hostile move. Wales lay quiet also, so Ian had put the matter out of his mind. Now it seemed reasonable enough to stop at Clyro, which was only a few miles out of the direct route back to Monmouth, and test the welcome he would receive. He stopped a night at Caergwrle and spent the next night at Powys, making no secret of where he was going. He had no objection to Sir Peter receiving word that he was on his way. It would be interesting and significant, in fact, if news was sent from Powys to Clyro Hill.
Word of his coming had certainly gone before him, Ian decided, but he was welcomed with such obvious pleasure that, at first, his suspicions were allayed. Sir Peter was delighted to see him. He had been on the verge of bidding the castle chaplain to write to ask him to come. There was a matter, Sir Peter said, that needed to be carefully discussed. Ian professed himself very ready to listen, merely remarking that Sir Peter should remember final decision on any subject lay with Lady Alinor.
"But she will assuredly do as you bid her," Sir Peter said.
Ian smiled, about to say he would take no wager on that, but he repressed the words. He did not wonder at the moment why Sir Peter should assume something so foreign to the character of a mistress he knew very well, because a fascinating idea had come to him. It was the only thing he had not yet tried. Thus far he had only threatened to deal with Alinor's people on his own. Actually, he had not even accompanied her on her visitations to her own domains, and he had consulted with her on what he planned to do on Adam's property. Perhaps if he actually moved without doing her the courtesy of consulting her
"Very well. Let me hear what troubles you."
"Oh, my lord, not tonight. You have had a long ride

 
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